Louis messer



( No Model.)

L, MESSER.

G01N TRAP PoR TOY sAPEs, sw.

No. 248,487. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

Niv omge.

l'NITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS MESSER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ZINN 85 MESSER, OF SAME PLAGE.

COIN-TRAP FOR TOY SAFES, 84C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 248,487, dated October 18, 1881.

Application filed September 7, 1881. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, LOUIS MESSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in (loinrIrapsfoNIoy Safes and other Articles ofa Similar Nature, of which the following is a specification. A

This invention consists in a coin-trap for toy safes, pocket-books, or other articles, consisting of a metal plate, a slot in said plate, a valve overlapping one of the edges of the slot, and a spring (one or more) acting on the valve, so that by the action ofthe spring-or springs the valve `is closed, and that when a coin is pressed down the valve recedes, and as soon as the coin has passed through the valve closes and the coin is prevented from passing back.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l represents a toy safe provided with my coin-trap. Fig. 2 is a plan 0r top view ofthe coin-trap detached. Fig. 3 is au inverted plan of the same, partly in section. Fig. el is a longitudinal section in the plane x x, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan, partly in section. Fig. 6 is a transverse section in the plane y y, Fig. l.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the example shown in the drawings, the letter A designates a metal plate, which is provided with a slot, te, and with two lugs, b b, one at each end of the slot a. These lugs are, by preference, formed in one piece with the plate A, by punching the slot a with tongues at its ends, which are afterward bent down to form the lugs. With theplateA a re combined the valves B B, which are formed of strips of sheet metal bent, as shown in Fig. 6, and applied to the opposite edges of the slot a, so as to overlap said edges and to be capable ofmoving toward and from each other. Said valves are subjected to the action ofwire springs ce, which are retained by the lugs b b, and the ends ot' which act upon the valves, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The inner edges ofthe valves B B are rounded off, as shown in Fig. 6, and by the action of the springs c c the valves are forced toward each other, so that they close the slot a.

When a coin is pressed down between the rounded edges of the valves said valves are forced open against the action of their springs, and after the coin has passed clear th rough between said valves the valves close and the coin is prevented from passing back.

If desired, my coin-trap may be constructed with a single valve applied to one edge of the slot a, and subjected to the action of a spring or springs which force the same up against the opposite edge of the slot.

When my coin-trap is applied to a toy safe, O, in the manner shown in Fig. l the coins which have been passed through the trap into the safe cannot be removed through the coinreceiving opening ofthe safe, and theycan only be reached by opening the cover D.

In order to give to the plate A a good hold on the cover D of the safe, a secondary plate may be placed on the inside of the cover and fastened thereto by the same rivets which serve to fasten the plate A, said inner plate being made ot' precisely the same size as the outer plate, and provided with slots large enough to permit the valves B B to open and close freely.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A coin-trap for toy safes and other similar articles, consisting of a metal plate, a slot in said plate, a valve overlapping one of the edges of the slot, and a spring (one or more) acting on the valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A coin-trap for toy safes and other similar articles, consisting of a metal plate, a slot in said plate, two lugs, one at each end of the slot, two valves overlapping the edges of the slot, and two springs retained in position by the lugs and acting on the valves, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscrib- 9o ing witnesses.

LOUIS MESSER. [L. 8.]

Witnesses W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

